Editorial Board

Mr. Meghji

Karim Meghji

Head Of Product, BookingSuite (USA), Inc.

Karim Meghji is a passionate executive and entrepreneur with 20 years of experience building successful products and businesses in consumer software and online services. Among other specialties, his areas of expertise include user interface and user experience management, online marketing and customer acquisition, technical operations management, and strategic, business and product planning. Most recently, he was Chief Product Officer and VP of Engineering at buuteeq, Inc., a leading software provider in the hospitality industry. Upon its acquisition by the Priceline Group, it became integrated into the Booking.com family of companies, and Karim took on his current position as the Head of Product at BookingSuite (USA), Inc.
In both of these roles, he has led the effort to build cloud-based SaaS software and related services that help global accommodations providers of every size build an online presence, increase bookings, and improve everyday workflow. Prior to his current role, Karim was Vice President of Products and Engineering at Yapta, an early-stage, venture-funded startup focused on helping leisure and corporate travelers save money. At Yapta, he led a major B2C to B2B product pivot and delivered MasterCard PriceAssure to market, a PCI-compliant web-based service for price tracking. Before his role at Yapta, he founded and bootstrapped his own startup, HelpHive, which made it easier for homeowners to find trusted recommendations for local home service professionals. Early in his career, Karim spent 10 years at Real Networks where he served as a key member of the executive team in various product leadership roles, including on Rhapsody (Real’s music subscription service), on Real’s advertising business and on their flagship RealPlayer product. Karim holds a BS in Computer Science from San Jose State University.
Please visit www.suite.booking.com for more information.

Karim Meghji's articles

Mobile Technology: Relentless Innovation

Technology has become a crucial component in attracting and retaining hotel guests, and the need to enhance a guest’s technology experience is driving a relentless pace of innovation. To meet and exceed guest expectations, 54% of hotels will spend more on technology in 2018, and mobile solutions in particular will top the list of capital investments. Many hotels are integrating mobile booking, mobile keys, mobile payments and mobile check-in into their operations. Other hotels are emphasizing the in-room experience, boosting bandwidth and upgrading flat screen TVs to more easily interface with guest mobile devices. And though not yet mainstream, there are many exciting technology developments on the near horizon. The Internet of Things (loT) is taking form in some places, and can be found in guest room control systems, voice activation systems, and in wearable sensors that can be used for access and payment options. Virtual reality headsets are available at some hotels so guests can enjoy virtual trips to exotic locations or if off-property, preview conference facilities and guest rooms. How long will it be before a hotel employs a fleet of robots for room service, or utilizes a hologram as a concierge, or installs gesture-controlled walls that feature interactive digital displays? Some hotels are already using augmented reality for translation services, or interactive wall maps, or even virtual décor. This pace of innovation is challenging property owners and brands to stay on top of the latest technology trends while still addressing current projects. The January Hotel Business Review will explore what some hotels are doing to maximize their opportunities in the mobile technology space.